Combined brush and currycomb.



no. 633,305. Patented nec. 5, |899.

A. M. wlGHTMAN. CUMBNED BRUSH AND CURHYCOMB.

IApplication led Feb, 10, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Many z ALBERT M. VVIGHTMAN COMBINED BRUSH attivi urina.

, OF RICHMOND, OHIO.

AND CURRYCOMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,305, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed February 10, 1899. Serial No. 705,176. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it nul/y concern.-

Beit known that l, ALBERT M. VVIGHTMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond, county of Ashtabula, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Currycoinb and Brush, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a similar view on line 3 3 of Fig. f2..`

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may be grasped in the hand in the usual way, as a brush is, and be used as a currycomb or as a brush or simultaneously as a comb and brush, as desired; and the invention consists in providing a simple device which by proper manipulation will produce the above-mentioned results.

Referring to the parts by numerals, l designates the brush-back, which is shown rectangular in shape, but may be of any desired formation, and which carries the bristles 2 and is provided with the usual holding-strap 3. At each of its ends the back l is formed with a transverse series of perforations, through which slide short posts 4. Secured to the upper ends of these posts and connecting the posts at one end of the brush with those at the other end is a plate 5, which covers nearly the entire upper surface of the brush-back. Secured to the lower ends of these posts are longitudinally-disposed combbars 6, whose lower toothed edges are parallel with the face of the brush. These comb-bars are disposed between the rows of the brushbristles and are connected at their ends to the posts 4, so that they are parallel with each other. The posts4 are longer than the thickness of the brush-back, and between the plate 5 and the brush-back is a at spring 7, which normally maintains the plate raised from the brush-back and holds the comb-bars against the under side of the brush-back. The comb- 'barsare narrower than the length of the bristles. Therefore when the parts are in their normal positions the toothed edges of these bars are withdrawn from the brush-face a suitable distance and will not interfere with the manipulation of the device as a brush.

lines in Fig. 2, or they may be projected a f sufficient distance beyond the face of the brush to act as a currycomb, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. These comb-bars are shorter than the rows of brush-bristles, so that when they are drawn closely against the bottom of the brush-back they are entirely out of the way, and while the device is in use as a brush they cannot contact with the animal which the user may be grooming.

The posts 4 fit snugly in the apertures in the brush-back and are held therein against any lateral or tilting movement, andhence are always perpendicular to the face of the brush. It will therefore be seen that the toothed edges of the comb-bars will be maintained parallel to the face of the brush in all positions, even if pressure be exerted on only one end of the plate 5, so that when they are brought into operation all the teeth will contact with the animal simultaneously. This is important, because if the ends of the toothbars come first -into operation they would scratch and cut the hide of the animal being groomed. Any suitable means may be employed to guide the posts 4.

In operation the hand is placed through the strap in either direction and the edges of the brush-back are grasped by the fingers.. If it is desired to merely use the device as a brush, no pressure is brought on the plate 5; but if it is desired to use the device as a currycomb the palm of the hand is brought to bear on said plate and the spring 7 is compressed and the comb-bars projected beyond the face of the brush. lt will also be observed that by extending the pressure-plate over substantially the entire back of the brush the device may be used on' either hand of the operator without affecting the operativeness of the currycomb device.

I claim- In a combined currycomb and brush, the combination of a brush having a series of holes formed in its back at each of its ends, a series of posts fitting said holes and adapted to slide therein but held against lateral or tilt- IOO ing movement, a plurality of comb-bars secured to the lower ends of these posts and lying between the rows of brush-bristles and being held normally retracted from the face of the brush, the toothed edges of the said bars being at all times maintained parallel with the face of the brush, a plate secured to the upper ends of the posts above the brushbaek and rigidly connecting them together, said plate extending over substantially all the brush-back, a spring between said plate and the brush-back to normally hold the combbars in their retracted position, and a handstrap secured to the back transversely of the plate and extending over the plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this Sth day of February, 1899.

ALBERT M. VVIGHTMAN. Witnesses:

A. C. WHITE, E. J. BETTS. 

